DOT POINT Revision Podcasts - VCE Psychology Unit 3 and 4

RESEARCH METHODS

UNIT 3

The research methodologies and ethical principles considered in this unit are:

• experimental research: construction of research hypotheses; identification of operational independent and dependent variables; identification of extraneous and potential confounding variables including individual participant differences, order effects, experimenter effect, placebo effects; ways of minimising confounding and extraneous variables including type of experiment, counterbalancing, single and double blind procedures, placebos; evaluation of different types of experimental research designs including independent-groups, matched-participants, repeated-measures; reporting conventions
• sampling procedures in selection and allocation of participants: random sampling; stratified sampling; random-stratified sampling; random allocation of participants to groups; control and experimental groups
• techniques of qualitative and quantitative data collection: case studies; observational studies; self-reports; questionnaires; interviews; brain imaging and recording technologies
• statistics: measures of central tendency including mean, median and mode; interpretation of p-values and conclusions; reliability including internal consistency; validity including construct and external; evaluation of research in terms of generalising the findings to the population
• ethical principles and professional conduct: the role of the experimenter; protection and security of
  participants’ rights; confidentiality; voluntary participation; withdrawal rights; informed consent
  procedures; use of deception in research; debriefing; use of animals in research; role of ethics
  committees.

GO TO MIND, BRAIN AND BODY PODCASTS click here

GO TO MEMORY PODCASTS click here

UNIT 4

• experimental research: identification and operationalisation of independent and dependent variables; identification of extraneous and potential confounding variables including artificiality, demand characteristics, and non-standardised instructions and procedures; ways of minimising confounding and extraneous variables including type of sampling procedures, and standardised instructions and procedures.
• sampling procedures in selection and allocation of participants: convenience sampling
• ethical principles and professional conduct: advantages and limitations of the use of non-human animals in research in terms of generalisation and conclusions.